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Fitchburg, Leominster receive grants for opioid antidote

By Cassidy Swanson, cswanson@lowellsun.com

Updated:
01/07/2016 06:34:17 AM EST

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that $700,000 in grants will be distributed to police and fire departments in 31 communities -- including $20,000 in Leominster and $12,750 in Fitchburg -- to purchase the opioid antidote naloxone.

"This grant will help save more lives as our administration continues to pursue new and wide-ranging tools to combat the opioid epidemic, including the ability for medical personnel to intervene with those who have overdosed," Baker said in a press release. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to pass meaningful reforms, and are pleased to support our first responders' access to immediate, life-saving resources."

Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 are being given to cities and towns hardest hit by the opioid epidemic to purchase the antidote, known by the brand name Narcan. Only municipalities that met the following criteria were eligible to apply: An average annual rate of 6.0 and above of unintentional/undetermined opioid overdose deaths per 100,000; and an average annual count of unintentional/undetermined opioid overdose deaths of 4.0 and above (2009-2013).

Among the other recipients of the grant were Boston, Lynn, Fall River, Lawrence, Waltham and Beverly.

Last year as part of comprehensive recommendations from the governor's opioid working group, the Baker administration established a bulk purchasing fund allowing first responders in municipal entities to access the state rate for naloxone purchases, and when available, receive an additional discount, according to the release.

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Baker has also filed legislation to provide medical personnel with the power to intervene with patients suffering from addiction, control the spread of addictive prescription opioids and increase education about substance use disorder for providers and in the community.

"Today's announcement, along with the creation of the bulk purchasing fund, will increase the amount of naloxone available in hot-spot communities where it is needed most," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. "These resources will help ease the costs of medication, enabling our firefighters and police officers to save more lives."

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